Method of making cast-metal wheels



June 24, 1930. Y F, w BURGER 1,765,754

METHOD oF MAKING CAST METAL WHEELS Original Filed Aug. 1C', 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l `.lune 24, 1930. F. BYURGE 1,765,754

METHOD OF MAKINGl CAST METAL WHEELS original Filed Aug. 1o, 1925 2 sheetgrsheet 2 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES; PATENT e FREDERICK w. BURGER, or' NIIEs, MICHIGAN, AssIeNoR To 'cLARREQUIrNtmrr 'COM- PANY, oF BUCHANAN, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or :MICHIGAN 1 ME'rHonoF MAKING CAST-METAL WHEELS Applicationv filed August 10, 1925,Serial IIa-49,161. Renewed November 27, 1929. l

May 29, 1925, by Edmund C. Mogfordand' myself, which application is Serial No. 33,657. My present invention has to do particularly with the manufacture of the spider, and it has for its object to provide van in1- proved method of finishing the rough casting of the spider so that it will be accurate` in shape and dimensions, and ready to have a rim applied thereto in the manner set forth in the pending application above referred to, and by which the machining cost will be reduced, and a further considerable saving et-A fected by eliminating the extray material usually allowed where castings are to be machined. In this connection I wish it to be understood that while in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention applied to the production of a spider such asy that shown and described in the aforesaid application, my improved process is'not limited to the production of spiders of that specific design, but 4 may also be applied to spiders of other suitable designs.

The nature of my invention will appear from the followin description thereof in connection with tle accompanying drawings, and what I regard as new is pointed out in the appended claims. Theapparatus shown is not herein claimed, as it forms the subject matter of a separate application for Letters Patent.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a vertical section 011 line 1-1 of Fig. 3 showing the apparatus used in carrying out m improved process with an untreated spi er placed in position to be operated upon;

Fig. 2 is a similar ',view showing ther position of the parts at the end of the operation; Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial enlarged vertical section of the hub portion of one of the spiders;

Fig. 5 is anV enlarged view-:showing ,the outer endportionof one of treatment; and

the spokes befoel Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the` same part after treatment. y

In the manufacture-of wheels of the type referred to, the spider is cast'` as aunit out of malleable iron or steel. The rough cast-y ing comprises a hollow hub portion 7 provided with a central cylindrical passa eor bore 8A so that it is annular in form. rom the hub portion 7 a suitable ynumber of hollow spokes 9 radiate.` These spokes are preferably frusto-conicaly in form, as shown in Fig. 3, their broad bases merging into the outer wall 10 of the hub portion 7 as'. shown hub portion is provided with a `circumferential groove 12 in its inner face, preferably approximately midway between the opposite sides of the spider, and the opposite face of the inner wall 11 is rounded or bulged oppoin Figs. 3 and 4.- The inner wall 11 ofsuch site such groove', as shown at 13 `in Fig. 4.

are parallel with eachother, as shown in i said figure.

The several spokes 9 are provided at their outer ends with laterally extending pads vor y seats 16 on which the wheel rim rests after the assembly of the rim with the spider has been effected. In the rough casting vthese pads have iiat outer surfaces, as shown at 17 inFig. 5, but as'they are desi ned to fit snugly against the inner surface o the wheel rim when it is applied to the spider, it is necessary that such outer surfacesI be rounded, as shown at 18 in Fig. 6, to conform to the curvature of the inner surface of the rim. To finish such pads tothe proper curvature, and also to reduce the hub portion of the spider to the proper 'thickness, without machining, and by one operation, is the purpose of my present invention.

In this connection it should be pointed out that in Fig. 4 have'illustrated by dotted lines-the original thickness of the hub portion of the rough casting, and in full linesits thickness when finished. This illustra- 32, located at convenient points around the 'tion of course is somewhat diagrammatic, as same, is a discharge ring 33, the diameter -I have not undertaken to show the actual ofY which is such that it fits closely in the dimensions. 1 die 19, as shown in Fig. 2. The discharge My invention consists in accomplishing ring 33 is designed to support the end por-` -the finishing of the spider, both as to the tions .of the spider during the pressing op- 7U thickness of the hub portion and the shaping eration, at which time the pads .16 rest of the pads or other end surfaces of the llpOn its upper Slllfaee, as Shown 1n Figs. spokes, by a pressing operation, as will now 1 and 2. The bolts, 32 are connected at their bemore particularly eX rlained in connection lower ends with the discharge ring 33 by with the explanation ol) the apparatus used means of pivots 34 which pass through in performjn the operation. eyes in the lower 'ends of said bolts and are Referring rst to Fig, 1, which shows'the fitted in ears 35 projecting inwardly from relation of the parts before the spider is the llng 33, 2S ShOWn 1n F 1g 1. The upper operated on, but with it in position ready ends of said bolts are adapted t0 slide` forthe operation, 19 indicates 9, ring die through suitable bearings iii the follower 8 which rests on .a suitable base 20. The in-Y 28, and their length 1s such that when the v ternal diameter of the lower portion ofthe folloWel- 28 1S 111 IS IPOPeIalVe posltlon 'die 19 corresponds with the internal diam- ShoWIl 111 F 1g. l, the dISChar e ring 33 is 20 eter ofthe Wheel rim to be applied to the suspended by the bolts at a istance Vfrom Spider, but the upper portion of said die is the under face of. the follower somewhat v i'iared, as shown'at'21, to facilitate the movegroote? than the Wldth of the 13841516. By ment of the spider thereinto. The base plate tllls arrangement When the Fem 27'1S`fo1`0od .20 is provided at its upper Surface Withoa down there is some lost motion before the shoulder 22, which properly positions the follower 28 Comes lll Contact Wltll'the uPPel' die 19 thereon, and also with a raised por- Surface oflllo SPldel also after the Ple'ss I tion v23 forming an annular shoulder 24, lng opeltlon the follower` .first mOVes 11p a ,spaood farrenough fromy the Shoulder 22 short distance before the discharge ring 33 so that the lower portion; of a discharge b ogms to rlse- The oxtenlof thlS lost Illoringl hereinafter described may t between tloll may be regulated by melius of nuts 36 95 v the shoulder 24 and the vinner surface of the screwed ou the uPel' ellds of the bolts 32a die'-19, as shown in Figi. 2. Mounted cenby the removal o Wlllell nuts the Completo '.trally on the upper surface of the base 20 sePolollou of the follower oud dlsouerge is an insert in the formof a block 25, and Fmg may be acompllshed 351 centrally'mounte'd on the block 25 is a spac- Ill oollylllg out my lmPloVed Processi elle ing block 26 which rises above the upper rem 27 and follower 28 bolug 1 the Pos1 face vof the block 25 at a distance equal to t"lollslloWu 1u Flgla o Sllldol 1s Inserted, the 'finishedrthiokness of the hub portion of tween the follower 28 and the discharge ring the spider." The block 26 serves as a stop 33,v so tust the outer fooes of the Paus lo 40 to limit the downward movement of the folsubstelltlslly eolnoulo Wltu the outer foco lower hereinta'fter described of. said discharge ring. `.The fact that at 105 Arranged centrally above the die 19in tllls tulle tlle dlsollal'ge flug lleugs loosely Y axial alinement therewith is the ram or from the follower and ls sepel'aeod thoroplunger 2'( of a hydraulic press of any suitfrom. uy a dlstellee soulewllat gl'eotol' Phon able description. Said ram is adapted to be the tulekuess of the sPldeI Pormlts 3h15 to no 33 and the siider carried by it to descend through the ared upper ortion of the die 19. As has been explaine when the spider is cast the outer faces of the pads?` 16 are and is -provided at its lower end with a punch or follower 28 circular in form and vpreferably beveled at its outer margin, as `5o shown at 29 in Fig. 1. The greatest external diameter of the follower 28 is substantially equalto the diameter of the spider fiat or straight .so that they he m Planes and the internal diameter ofthe die 19, as that are. tangentml to the curvature of the best `Shown in Fig Q The follower 28 is wheel rim and also to the curvaturenf the. 55 provided. at its inner side with an insert (he 19' Consequenly when the Splder .1S 120 in the `form of a block 30 which is secured lowered to .a Canam point the .Pads nu centrally thereto by a bolt 31, as shown in engage the Inner surface of the .118 thereby o Figs. 1 and 2. The block 30 corresponds inafrestmg the desent of the SPldel" Coll" dimensions with the block 25, lwhich it overtmlfel downwfuu movement of the mm Wlll so lies, and Y both these blocks are made of permit vthe dischargek ring 33' to continue 125 hardenedsteel. -Their opposing faces are lts descent leavlllg the sPllol supported by Hat, and` (zorrespond in diameter with the the dlt?, llnlll at lengthgtlle f0llOWeI- 28 Will diameter of the hub portion'j of the spider, come into contact with the upper surface as shown in Fig. 2. of the spider, the block 30 engaging the upper e5 Suspended from the follower 28 by bolts surface of the hub portion thereof, while the 130 'spider wherein one spoke is slightly shorter 1 marginal portion of the follower will engage the upper margins of the ads 16. The

further descent of the ram wi l consequently.

force the spider down into the narrower part of the die, thereby applying pressure to the pads to curve them into conformity .with the curvature of the die, so that they then assume the shape shown in Fig. 6. As the spider is carried down into' the die, the 'lower face of its hub ortion comesr into contact with the block 25, the parts then being vin the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the hub portion is compressed between the blocks 25 and 30, the spokes being meanwhile confined circumferentially, against velongation by the die 19. The pressure thus ap lied to the spider reduces the thickness oy the hub portion to an extent determined by the height of the stop block 26, and at the same time the upper and lower marginalA por-v tions of the pads are compressed to the desired finished dimensions'. The urpose of providing the groove 12 in thev inner wall of the hub portion of the spider is to get away from a continuous cylindrical wall and allow all distortions to'take place at the curved'portion, thereby making it possible to press the hub together slightly in order to reduce it to the proper thickness as well as to make the two sides parallel and iron them out. The inner and outer walls 13 and 10 of the hub portion are made comparatively thin to facilitate this opera tion, but of course they are thick enough to have the requisite,l stren h.

It will be noted that t e first step of forcing the spider into Ithe circular d1e 19' sizes and shapes all of the pads simultaneously, and in so doing sets up inwardly acting pressures in the entire spider. The lsecond step of thereafter applying pressure to the oppositel sides of the hub portion ingan axialV direction sets up pressures in the spokes and lpads acting outwardly in the spokesy tending to force the pads out against' the si es of the ring die with an increased pressure, This naturally follows from the compression of the vhub portion,v owing to the fact that the annular form of the inner wallll and the considerable mass of metal therein will substantially prevent inward contraction of the hub portion. Moreover, the bulged or V-shaped cross-section of the outer wall 10 will result in the axial compression of the hub portion reacting outwardly as a radial thrustingpressure tending to force the pads out against the sides of the circular die. Thus the latter stepY of compressing the hub.portion serves the vtwofold purpose of sizing 'and shaping the hub portion and also of creating'outwardly acting pressures in the spokes. The advantage gained by creating these outwardly acting pressures is illustrated in the case of a cast spi than the others. The initial step of forcing the spider into-the ring die may not subject this spoke to the same amount of' inwardly Y I acting pressure as it will the other spokes.

However, the secondary step of compressingoutwardly acting pressures 1n the shorter spoke lwhich wil the hub portion will set up cause the same to be pressed outwardly against the circular die 19 with the required pressure to shape and size the pad thereof correspondingly with-the other pads. It will be noted thatat no time in the entire die operation do either of the die parts coni tact with the intermediate portions ofthe spokes, and, hence, the spokes are only sub- Jected to endwisecompression stresses which they are ca able of sustaining without pos-'- sibility of racture. v

A further advantage gained by creating these outwardly actin pressures or stresses is that afterv the spi er has been inserted in the wheel rim, when the wheel is put inservice the jar and vibration release some l' of the stresses set up in the s ider,with the result that it increases in iameter, so that it actually becomes tighter in the rim or felloe as it is being used, and is held more firmly than when the parts were originally assembled. y f

From the fore oing description it will be' seen that by t e single pressing operation describedv the correct diameter across the spokes is produced, and the outer faces ofthe pads are caused to conformto a true circle; at the same time the hub portion of the spider is reduced to the proper thickness and4 its sides aremade parallel and smoothed out. Therefore no machining is necessary, and, besides, by eliminatin that Work a considerable saving is e ected through reductionin the weight of the cast` The die ring 19 may be made of hardened steel, but I prefer to. make it of soft steel -r instead of replacing them the may be set up to compensate for wear by means shims used in the ordinary way. f

So far as I am 'aware,'no one has heretofore proposed to make a cast metal wheel of the t pe described b pressing a rough der into nishe shape and dimensions, sov that my invention is not -limited to the finishing of the precise spider shown andv described, although more specifically considered that is included v in and forms a part' of it. It should be understood that the term hub portion of the spider as used herein 115 v- Vbe removed and replaced 1f necessary, or l j ing the hub refers to the central web-like party thereof that holds the inner ends of the spokes together, whether it be `in the form of a definite wheel hub ornot. The spider illustrated has a hub portion intended to receive a separate forged hub which is bolted in place, but my invention is not limited to such particular form of spider.

What I claim' asmy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The method of making cast vmetal wheelsfwhich consists in casting a unitary spider lcomprising a hollow hub portion and spokes'radiating therefrom, and then pressortion and spokes to size and shape in a' sultable'die. 2. The method of making `cast metal wheels, which consists in casting a unitary spider comprising a hollow hub portion and spokes radiating therefrom, and then applying lateral pressure to the spider to reduce it to the desired thickness.

3. The methodl of making cast metal wheels, which consists in casting a unitary spider lcomprising ahollow hub portion and spokes' radiating therefrom, and then compressing the spider laterally and substantially coincidently shaping the ends ofthe spokes by pressure.

4. The method of making cast metal wheels,fwhich consists in castinga unitary spider comprising a'hollow .hub portion and spokes radiating therefrom, and then pressingthe spider to' size and shape in a suitable die.`

5. The method of making cast metal Wheels, which consists in casting a unitaryY spider comprising a hollow hub ortion provided with an intermediately isposed circumferential groove, and spokes radiating from said hub portion, and then applying Vlateral pressure toA the spider to reduce it to the proper thickness.

6. The,V method of making castmetal wheels, which Vconsists in castmg a unitary spider comprising a hollow hub ortion provided with an intermediately sposed circumferential groove, and spokes radiating from said hub portion, and then ,applying lateral pressure to the'spider to reduce it to the proper thickness and substantially coincidently shaping the ends of the Aspokes Vby pressure.

7 The method of making cast metal Wheels, which consists in cast-ing a unitary spider comprising a hub portion and'hollow spokes-radiating therefrom, said s okes havingv laterally extended pads 'at t eir outer ends, and then simultaneously and similarly curving the'outer. faces of the several pads by pressure applied to the ends of the spokes.

8. The method of making YcastA metal wheels, which consists in casting a unitary spider comprising a hub portion and hollow spokes radiating therefrom, said spokes having laterally extended pads at their outer ends, and then simultaneously and similarly curving ,the outer faces of the several pads by pressing the spider laterally into a circular die;

9. lThe method` of making cast metal wheels, which consists in casting a unitary spider comprising a hub portion and spokes radiating therefrom, said spokes having laterally extended pads at their outer ends, and then simultaneously and similarly curving the outer faces of the several pads by pressing the spider laterally into a circular die, and applying lateral pressure to the hub portion of the spider.

10. The method of making cast metal Wheels, which consists in casting a unitary spider comprising a hub portion and hollow spokes radiating therefrom, sa'id spokes having laterally extended pads at their outer ends provided with substantially flat outer faces, and then curving the outer faces of the pads by pressing the spider laterally into a circular die.

11. The method of making cast metal wheels, which consists in casting a unitary spider comprising a hollow hub portion and hollow spokes radiating therefrom, and then pressing the spider to size and shape in a suitable die. Y

y 12. The method of sizing a hollow metal spider comprising ahub and integral spokes,

\ which comprises first contracting the spider by pressure applied radially ofthe spokes, and then expanding the spider by pressure applied laterally of the hub. Y

13. The method -of making cast metal wheels, which comprises casting a unitary spider comprising a hub portion and spokes radiatingV therefrom, said spokes having laterally extended pads at their outer ends, then pressing the spider into a circular die to compress the pads and spokes inwardly radially ofthe spider, and thereafter while u the spider remains in said die compressing Vthe hubportion in avdirection axially of the spider to establish outwardly acting pressures in the spokes and pads.

'14. The method of making cast metal wheels which comprises casting a Vunitary .spider comprising a hollow hub portion and hollow spokes radiating therefrom, said 'spokes having laterally extended pads at their outer ends, then as -a first sizing operation forcing the spider into a circular die by pressure applied' to the side margins of the pads whereby the entire spider is subjected Yto inwardlyY acting compression pressures, and then asa second sizing Voperation applying pressure in an axial direction to the sides of the hub Y portion, without the application of ypressure in a corresponding direction to the intermediate portions of'the spokes, whereby the compression of said hub port-ion will establish outwardly acting lpressure in said said diametrical dimension by cau'si tive movement between the spider an a fespokes.

15. The method of making cast metal wheels which comprises casting' a hub portion and spokes radiating therefrom, said spokes having laterally extending pads which are'purposely cast with portions of their outer faces projecting beyond the inner diametrical dimension of the rim which is to be subsequently mounted thereon, and then reducin the outer faces of the pads to a true circ e conforming substantially to male die in a direction transversely across the 'outer faces of said ads for radially compressing and shaping t e same.

16. The method of making 'cast metal wheels which consists in casting a unitary spider com rising a hub portion and spokes ressing the spider by pressure applied aterally to the hub portion thereof while the spokes are circumferentially coniined against elongation. l

1S. The method 'of preparing a metal spider comprising a hub portion and spokes radiating therefrom, for application to a suitable felloe, which conslsts in pressing the spider laterall into a circular die to incanta-f.

relasure applied thereto While it is confined cir-l cumferentially by a suitable .die to limit its radial expansion, and completing the wheel by forcing the spider laterally into a tightl ly fitting circumferential felloe'band.

22. The method of making a metal wheel comprisin a spider and a felloe band tightly fitted t ereupon circumferentially thereof, which consists in creating outwardlyA acting stresses in the spider before the application of the felloe band thereto, by applying pressure laterally to the spider while it iscircumferentially confined by a suitable die to limit its radial expansion, and then tightly mounting the felloe band on the spider.

. 23. The method of making a metal wheel `which consists in casting 'a spider comprising radially disposed 'spokes centrally connected together, creating outwardly acting stresses in the spider by applying pressure laterally to the central portion thereof while the spokes are circumferentially confined to limit their radial elongation, and then mounting a felloe band tightly upon the outer ends of the spokes.

24. The method of making a metal wheel which consists in casting a spider comprising radially disposed spokes centrally connected together, creating outwardly acting stresses in the spider by applying pressure laterall to the central portion thereof while the spo es are circumferentially confined to limit their radial elongation, and then forcing the spider by-lateral pressure into a felloe band fitting tightly upon the outer ends of the spokes.

FREDERICK W. BURGER. v

apply pressure ra 'ally of the spokes, and

then setting up outwardly acti in the spider by pressure applie laterally to the hub portion thereof while the spider f remains in the. die.

19. The method of preparing a metal u I, lspider comprising a hub portion and spokes radiating therefrom, for application. to a suitable felloe, which conslsts in creating outwardly acting stresses in the spider by applying pressure laterally to the hub por- Y tion thereof while the spokes are circumvferentially confined to limit their radial elongation.

l' v20. The method of making a metal wheel vwhich consists in creating outwardly acting stresses in a suitable s ider by lateral pressure applied thereto While it is conned circumferentially by a suitable die to limit its radial eX ansion, and com leting the wheel by app ng a confining elloe band circumferentia y to the spider.

21. The method of makinga metal wheel Vwhich consists in creatin outwardly acting stresses in a suitable spi er by lateral presstresses 

